The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have reached a landmark agreement to improve lecturers’ remuneration and welfare, ending over 16 years of stalled negotiations and recurring threats of industrial action in Nigeria’s public universities.
The agreement will take effect from January 1, 2026.
Under the terms of the deal, lecturers nationwide will receive a 40 percent salary increase.
Pension benefits have also been enhanced, allowing professors to retire at age 70 with pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries, addressing long-standing demands for improved retirement conditions.
The agreement includes key reforms to strengthen university funding and safeguard academic autonomy.
Dedicated funding will be provided for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment, and staff development.
A National Research Council will oversee research initiatives, with at least 1 percent of Nigeria’s GDP allocated to support academic research.
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Leadership appointments in universities will be merit-based, promoting transparency in the selection of deans, provosts, and other academic officers.
The agreement also guarantees that no lecturer will face sanctions for participating in previous industrial actions.
The pact will be reviewed every three years to address emerging challenges in the higher education sector.
Government and union officials described the agreement as a major breakthrough toward stabilising Nigeria’s universities and improving the quality of tertiary education nationwide.